Most of us probably do not like change. Change makes most of us uncomfortable. We like the familiar and so, when faced with a transition, we can find ourselves tense as we might feel uncertain about the change. This is completely understandable. But life is about change. Change is also a reality in local churches. One change that local churches must face is the transition to receiving a new shepherd. This can be both exciting and tense, a reality that is revealed for us in these final verses of Numbers 27.

We hear much and think deeply on the biblical qualifications and characteristics of elders appointed to the church, but how often do we consider the responsibility of the congregation to care for its elders? The proper practice of corporate spiritual disciplines requires us to assess our responsibilities to our elders, for the good of the church and the progress of the gospel and the glory of God.

The question before us in Habakkuk 3 is, how did Habakkuk come to rest in faith? As we study the text carefully, we see that he took at least four major steps to bring himself to the point of rest. First, he rehearsed God’s worth (vv. 1–2). Second, he recounted God’s works (vv. 3–16). Third, he received God’s wrath (v. 16). Finally, he rejoiced in God’s wisdom (vv. 17–19).

After God told Habakkuk what he was going to do to judge Judah for its sins (1:5–11), Habakkuk responded with a second prayer, in which he expressed confusion that God would use a nation even more wicked than Judah to judge Judah. There are questions in vv. 12, 13, and 17. When he struggled to understand what God was doing, he did exactly what he should have done: He questioned God.

Having spoken about the centrality of Christ in the Christian’s life, Paul now focuses his attention on the dangers of replacing Christ with anything else. He mentions the peril of dead religion, the peril of proud leaders, and the peril of legalism. The confused and confusing world in which we live will constantly pull us away, but we have died to the world in Christ.

Habakkuk is a book about faith. Its central theme—“the righteous one will live by his faith” (2:4)—is quoted three times in the New Testament (Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38). Habakkuk takes us on a journey of faith. Each of the three major sections highlights faith in a different disposition. As we journey through the book, we learn that faith wrestles (1:1–11), faith questions (1:12–2:20), and faith rests (3:1–19). To reach its resting place, faith must begin with the first two steps.

The city of Colossae was a confused and confusing place to live, much like our globalised modern culture. In 2:6–15, Paul is at pains to strengthen the believer’s faith in Jesus. By doing so, he teaches us about the pillars of a Christian worldview: being constant in Christ and being captivated by Christ. If we are to grow strong in our walk with the Lord and withstand the attraction of the world, we need a greater view of the centrality of Christ.

A major point of the book of Numbers is that, even when those who claim to be God’s people are unfaithful, God remains faithful. The same truth is taught in the New Testament. We have seen this reality on several occasions in Numbers, and chapters 26–27 draw our attention to this theme once again, in subtle and surprising ways.

The Lord’s Supper pictures and presents the gospel to us: to our sight, our touch, our taste. In the Lord’s Supper we commune with Christ and therefore with his people. When we eat the bread and drink the cup, we reaffirm our trust in Christ and our commitment to his people. When we celebrate the Lord’s Supper, we embrace Christ all over again, and we also embrace all who are his.

One of the primary assignments of the church is to gather for worship. But what does worship look like? Is worship a free for all? Does God prescribe what worship in the church should be? Looking at 1 Corinthians 14:20–25, Doug considers what corporate worship in the new covenant church should look like.